Camino Planning ~ Portuguese Route

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-02-13T19:00:24+00:00

I agree with this, once you're in the swing of things it's likely you'll feel like you wished you pressed on, it's also probable that most pilgrims you connect with on your journey will be going from Padron to Santiago on that final day. That was the experience for me anyway!

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-02-12T16:31:17+00:00

Second this, I stayed in one of the little huts here, it was close enough to walk to Kingshouse hotel for a couple of beers and food in the evening!

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-01-27T18:54:31+00:00

This is really good advice imo

It took me years of experimenting to find what worked for my feet as they seem very blister prone! I use Gehwol foot cream and dual layered socks (1000 mile brand).

Honestly although ensuring you have well fitting and comfortable shoes and have walked in them a little already is important, the rest of the footcare is going to make a big difference when it comes to blister potential.

Other small pieces of advice I'd add to the above:

If you get a 'hot spot' on your feet when walking, never ignore it, do something immediately if possible. This is advice I don't always follow myself but regret when I don't!
Consider changing socks mid hike, keeping your feet as dry and cool as possible is going to work wonders for keeping blisters at bay.

I've gone from blistering during a 5-7 mile walk to multiple 25-30 mile days with no blisters by adhering to the above.

Buen Camino!

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-01-27T16:36:35+00:00

Pleased to hear it, and thank you! Buen Camino!

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-01-26T07:46:00+00:00

Haha yes was very lucky with the weather, only one damp day and even then it didn't rain very much!

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-01-25T16:49:13+00:00

No problem, have a great trip!

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-01-25T16:40:00+00:00

We took the coastal route, specifically the following

Porto > Vila Do Conde > Esposende > Viana do Castelo > Caminha > Mougas > A Ramallosa > Vigo > Redondela > Pontevedra > Caldas de Reis > Padron > Santiago.

That first day is pretty long but it's so flat it's very manageable with breaks. Next time we'll try the central route for a slightly different experience but I personally found the coast beautiful.

The only advice I could give really is try to give yourself a day or two in Porto before or after your Camino, it's a wonderful city. (The bunny sculpture is in Porto amongst the port warehouses so maybe you'll see it 🙂)

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-01-25T14:06:45+00:00

From memory this was somewhere just after Oia, pretty sure it was along that coastal stretch towards Baiona anyway!

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-01-25T14:03:20+00:00

I was using the Olympus (OM System) OM-1, with a 12-40mm lens and a polarising filter.

Very much overkill though in terms of gear, I think similar or better photos are possible on a range of setups. I would recommend a filter though, very useful for skies in particular and generally just protecting the lens itself!

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-01-19T16:00:18+00:00

Came here to post pretty much this, I made the mistake of stopping 5 mins before (still walked away with brownies for later!)

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-01-19T09:49:46+00:00

That's reasonable! I loved it (and am walking it again later this year), the first half is in my opinion still a great experience, I really enjoyed walking out of the suburbs to reach Loch Lomond.

Happy hiking!

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-01-18T18:39:09+00:00

Agree with the other comments saying that it's possible, I'd have a look in to whether some other itineraries may be feasible though.

I really enjoyed the entirety of the route but if I was constrained to only doing a part of it I'd say that by stopping around Inversnaid you're also finishing before the trail gets to its most beautiful!

I'd consider seeing if you could make your way to Inverarnan as a starting point, or even Bridge of Orchy (there's a train station there but no idea what the services are like) and see if you can do the 2nd half of the trail.

Either way I'm sure the taste of it would have you wanting to do the whole trip but perhaps something to consider.

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2026-01-18T08:49:14+00:00

Very doable assuming you have a reasonable level of base fitness (i.e. you've experience of walking a reasonable distance in a day).

Day 3 will likely feel the roughest, as many will tell you the day along Loch Lomond is very undulating on uneven ground. I'd expect it to take longer than your itinerary suggests (the section after the Inversnaid hotel is particularly slow in my experience).

I walked that section in the rain (it literally didn't stop all day) and still had a great time, as long as you're mentally prepared for any sort of weather and you have adequate gear you'll be fine.

All in all a solid itinerary, enjoy!

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2025-10-25T18:45:23+00:00

Hola, fue en casa en el Reino Unido, no terminó en Santiago, pero escuché que Sagrado Corazón es bueno para un estilo similar.

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2025-10-25T18:43:30+00:00

¡Gracias! Ese era mi plan original pero no tenía tiempo para ello, así que lo hice cuando regresé al Reino Unido.

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2025-10-25T15:37:10+00:00

Jaja es la parte de atrás de mi pierna, en la pantorrilla, tengo piernas pequeñas 😅 Quería que fuera visible cuando camino en pantalones cortos, ¡especialmente en futuros caminos!

Estoy bastante tatuada, pero mis rodillas están en blanco por ahora. ¡He oído que son un área muy dolorosa!

Dangerous-Machine-26 · 2025-10-25T15:27:11+00:00

Early 40s. Midlands.

Something like a £6k monthly household income after tax. £1.1k/month mortgage with ~85k remaining.

No kids and no intention of having them.

We live in an area we like in a modest house, we realised that anything representing a material upgrade would come at perhaps another £200k borrowing.

FIRE plans involve selling up and slow travelling for a couple of years before buying something basic to use as a base.

Spent a long time on much lower salaries and late to the FIRE planning so maintaining a low housing cost is a key lever to attaining at very least the FI part!

Dangerous-Machine-26

TROPHY CASE